Extracting Water From A Flooded Basement

By Author: Leo Nov
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Water, because of its form, can get through vents, floors, ducts and other areas that people would normally not think that water can be found. As a result, damage can be sustained by the home in the most unusual places. Regardless of where the damage happens, there is a need to apply sufficient time and effort in its restoration.

Water damage usually comes in the form of a flooded basement. Fortunately, there are ways to extract the water from the area. First, the flood waters would have to recede before any work should be done. Otherwise, the water would simply be replenished by the source and the cleanup efforts in vain. Although this may seem like an obvious fact, it is surprising to note that there are a large number of households that try to scoop out or mop off the water as it comes in. Generally, this is just a waste of time and unnecessarily exposes the property owners to contaminated water.

The best way to extract water from a flooded basement is to use a pump set outside the house. Place the suctioning line in the basement to get rid of the water. Avoid using gasoline powered pumps indoors because the ...
... fumes can cause the occupants to suffocate. At its worst, the carbon monoxide produced can be fatal. Sump pumps can be renter or borrowed from a wet vacuum shop. However, the best way to deal with the water is still access the services of a professional contractor to avail of their skills and equipment.

Pump the water until it reaches a level of less than a foot. Mark the level of the water and leave it for about eight hours to see if the water is stable enough to continue with the work. If after that time, the mark that was made was covered by water yet again, it is too soon to conduct any kind of restoration or cleanup process. Wait for another 24 hours before pumping the water again.

Ventilation is the key to basement drying because the sun and wind can help dry out the surfaces. An improved airflow also makes the basement safer for the workers to stay in. It reduces the probability of them inhaling contaminated water droplets from the flood.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for fire and water damage cleanups. To learn more about flooded basement and flooding basement, visit RestorationSOS.com